Sourav Ganguly and Irfan Pathan posted career-best knocks as India showed their batting prowess to put Pakistan under pressure in the third and final Test here on Sunday.

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Ganguly cracked an elegant 239 for a maiden Test double-century and Pathan marked his comeback with an explosive 102 for a first hundred to help India pile up a mammoth 626 in their first innings.

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Pakistan made a strong reply as they reached 86-1 at stumps on the second day. Salman Butt was unbeaten with an aggressive 50 and stand-in captain Younis Khan was on seven. They still need 341 more runs to avoid a follow-on.

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Left-handed Butt swept leg-spinner Anil Kumble for a ninth four to reach his half-century. He also punished paceman Ishant Sharma, hitting three successive boundaries.

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It was India's highest total against Pakistan at home, beating the previous best of 616-5 declared in the second Test of the current series at Kolkata.

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Ganguly and Pathan put the Pakistani attack to the sword with thrilling strokeplay on a good batting track, adding 178 for the seventh wicket to ensure the tourists bat under the threat of a follow-on.

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The pair also overshadowed Pakistani seamer Yasir Arafat, who finished with five wickets on his Test debut.

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"It's one of my best innings. It was very important in the context of the series. The pitch is going to keep low. We are in with a chance (of winning the series)," said former skipper Ganguly.

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"I am not captain anymore. There's less to worry about and I can focus on my game. The eight-month absence (last year) from the team allowed me to relax and I learnt to enjoy my cricket. It's very satisfying to make a double-century."

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Ganguly, 125 overnight, reached his double-hundred in the afternoon when he drove Arafat through the covers for two runs. His previous best was 173 against Sri Lanka in Mumbai in 1997.

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Lower-order batsman Pathan, 23, went on the rampage in his first Test in more than a year as he smashed four sixes and 10 fours in his 133-ball knock.

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He needed four runs to complete his century when last-man Sharma joined him, but he did it in style when he hoisted leg-spinner Danish Kaneria for his fourth six.

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"I never imagined I will score a hundred in my comeback Test. It is a great feeling to get my first Test century," said Pathan.

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"We are in control after the way we have batted for one-and-a-half days. Tomorrow will be very crucial. I think the pitch will break and it will be difficult for batsmen."

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It was a frustrating day for Pakistan, who struggled for more than two sessions to claim the remaining five wickets after the hosts had resumed at 365-5. None of their bowlers could keep pressure on Ganguly and Pathan.

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Pakistan were a bowler short as paceman Shoaib Akhtar was unable to resume bowling after being off the field for more than a session on Saturday due to back pain. He was not given a single over even when he became eligible to bowl.

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Younis was left with only three specialist bowlers but seamers Mohammad Sami and Arafat, and Kaneria were ineffective on an unhelpful wicket.

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Ganguly and Pathan made the most of the conditions, reducing the Pakistani bowlers and fielders to a state of helplessness during their big partnership.

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Runs came thick and fast when they were at the crease as 96 came off 27 overs in the morning and 150 off 30 in the afternoon.

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The 35-year-old Ganguly was bowled attempting to sweep Kaneria in the afternoon session. He struck two sixes off Kaneria and 30 fours in his superb 361-ball knock.

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Pakistan got one wicket in the morning when Arafat had Dinesh Karthik (24) caught behind, but not before the batsman had added 66 for the sixth wicket with Ganguly.

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Karthik again missed out on a big innings ahead of the Australian tour. He is now under pressure to retain his Test place, having scored 63 in five innings against the tourists.